Xavi facing selection dilemma ahead of Barcelona’s clash against Athletic Club

In the span of a mere seven days, Barcelona are scheduled to play three matches, starting this Sunday against Athletic Club at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuic.

Hence, it is only fair for Xavi to think about how to rotate his players according to the magnitude of the game. 

Right now, although the focus is on the upcoming home game, Xavi is not losing sight of next week’s UEFA Champions League game as well.

On the other hand, as Mundo Deportivo reports, there remains a big concern about the playing XI that will take the field on Sunday due to the injuries in the squad and the fatigue accumulated from national team duties.

Injuries and fatigue

At present, as many as eight Barcelona players are nursing their respective injuries. This includes Pedri, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Sergi Roberto, Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha.

Additionally, Lamine Yamal, although he participated in part of the training session with the team on Wednesday, is yet to receive medical clearance.

Alejandro Balde, who experienced discomfort during Spain’s opening match in the recent international break, also joined the list of injured players, although he too has trained with the group this week.

Indeed, as reported before, the young duo is currently said to be in good shape at the moment.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Ilkay Gundogan and Marc-Andre ter Stegen participated in every minute of the German national team’s two friendly matches in the United States, and they won’t rejoin training under Xavi until today. The same applies to Ronald Araujo. 

Team selection a big headache for Xavi

Given the issues, Xavi faces a major dilemma regarding his team selection for Sunday as he not only has to deal with injuries and fatigue but also keep in mind that two crucial games are coming up next week.

So, it puts the Barcelona manager in a difficult position over whether he should rotate his players or not.

Regarding the defensive line, two uncertainties emerge for Xavi. Firstly, deciding whether to grant Araujo or Andreas Christensen a rest. Notably, the latter did not feature against San Marino against Denmark, which might lead to Araujo getting a break. 

Inigo Martinez, on the other hand, stands prepared to face his former team. On the left flank, as a precautionary measure, Marcos Alonso might take the field.

In the midfield, Gundogan’s starting place is the biggest question, with Fermin Lopez, Oriol Romeu, and Gavi likely to start the game.

Lastly, selection of attackers is the biggest area of concern for Barcelona. For the upcoming fixture, in anticipation of Lewandowski’s potential return for El Clasico, Xavi’s reliance will primarily rest on Felix and Torres, with the added hope of a swift recovery from Yamal.